I bought an E-motion bike about two years ago. Designed in Spain, made in China. About $1700. I have 2200 km on it now. The one with the battery mounted under the saddle. I really enjoyed commuting about 3 miles each way almost daily. I had to add a chain guard to keep chain from falling off, upgrade the tires (had a puncture), upgraded the derailleur. Also had to replace wiring to battery because the way the battery is mounted is a poor design. Looks like the Trek Verve+ has all the right components, good design, adequate but not too much power for my age, length of commute and terrain. Also Verve doesn't weigh too much? That was a big advantage of the E-motion--not much more weight than my regular commuting bike. Learned a lot with the E-Motion. Looking forward to learning more about the Verve on a test-ride. Thanks so much for the thorough review. It was really helpful. I also have a 3-speed made in Holland with front and rear lights, just like the Verve.
Great review and helped me immensely in selecting an eBike - thanks for this! Purchased this bike a couple of months ago and have started riding more as Spring arrives in Toronto. I have non-electric bikes for when I want to get a workout but wanted an electric one when my primary purpose is to commute or something else (eg. photography ride). I bought the Verve+ because I wanted something to flatten out hills and cut through wind without feeling like a scooter and it has lived up to my expectations so far. The mid-drive is quiet and power is added seamlessly into your normal pedal stroke. It's relatively light weight (for an e-bike) means that you can ride without power or in the lowest setting in many circumstances to get some calorie burn in as well. Riding position is awesome - only replaced the seat for something with a bit more cushion. Also like how the lights are nicely integrated into the bike.
Be sure to test this bike on the terrain you usually ride. The lack of front shocks ruled it out for me at my age w/sports injuries that could not absorb the shock directly on front wheel that went to my shoulders, wrists, elbows. Otherwise it is a neat bike.
That was such a very very good and knowledgeable explanation of the Trek electric bikes and left no detail unexplained, thank you very much for that now I can make up my mind as to what sort of ebike I want and will purchase. I feel that I now have the confidence to go into a bike shop and actually know what I am talking about so again thank you for that and greeting from across the pond.
Me too, it's great to have models coming out from mainstream companies, there are a lot of cyclists in Fort Collins and ebikes could allow even more people to go by bike vs. car :)
Nice bicycle, nice the battery in the middle, very nice price :) I should buy the rear reck. I not like the Purion display, perhaps you can change it to Intuvia. If it is really cold I know that there are covers that protect the battery against the cold. I only know the covers for battery on the rear reck, perhaps there are also covers for the battery in the middle. I own 2 400 watt rear rack battery's, the second I bought very cheap (new) on internet, 200 euro. Original Bosch. Normally when I drive shorter distances I change the battery when there are 3 III left. I always load my battery and keep the other inside my house. It is a good thing when you not going to use the battery for a longer period to load the battery half full. My nearly 8 years first battery still works fine, little less distance then the second one I bought (6 years old). On very long trips I bring the second battery along. I ride mostly in tour, sometimes with strong headwinds in sport and if I must climb, I use turbo. Mostly that are bridges here in my flat country, The Netherlands. I still can manage about 100 km on 1 battery, but in winter time it can be less, in summer time it can be more.
Hello Court, I enjoy your reviews and you have a knack for it along with the great personality. I just wanted to say this is a great city bike with one caveat and that is I would have liked to see a throttle on this bike that would give you full power from a standstill for those awkward situations when you get caught in the wrong gear at an intersection or a sudden stop and you need to go quickly and not fumble around losing time and ones mojo. It may not comply with class designation but maybe it could be sold as an after market upgrade. This is where hub motors shine. I'd appreciate your comment.
Throttles are great! But like you infer,, it'd change the classification from Class 1 to Class 3, limiting it's lawful use in many places....also, this model has rather weak motor output and throttle would also be weak. Probably better to look at a higher power model which includes it. Imho, I think Trek is being thoughtful about excluding it in this case. I built a 1000w e-bike and definitely luv the throttle, fyi. (Good review Court!)
Hi Herbert! It seems that Trek is going very conservative with throttles, even disabling walk mode. There are lots of other options in this price range that do have a throttle, mostly from smaller companies with less to lose maybe? I created a search filter on the site so you can click advanced and choose Drive Mode trigger throttle and twist throttle to explore different options. I think throttles are also potentially hard on the drivetrain if you ride a mid-drive product like this. Anyway, here's the link: electricbikereview.com/
Thanks for the filter tip. I wasn't aware of that function and I have been to your site often. It seems like there aren't any mid drive bikes with throttle override
Great review. You do a really good job both as to the technical stuff but as well as a pleasant personality which makes the review especially easy to watch. Just bought a Verve+ 3, so of course, am trying to get as much information as possible to get to know the bike better. Why an electric now? I've toured or trained thousands of miles on my TREK 7500. I just turned 81 and the hills and distances I like to ride are becoming a bit more difficult. The new bike will add years of riding to places I'd still like to explore.
Your reviews are super helpful. Thank you! What about the 2019 model of this? I couldn't find your review for that. If not much substantial change, would you comment on that? Also, would you comment on anything special needed for caring for where the battery attaches (like, do you need to dry it off/out if it rains while you are transporting it without batter connected, etc.)?
Wonder when some manufacturer will come up with the idea of a fixed light on the head tube with an additional/auxillary light on the handlebars/stem. If someone hasn't already.
I like how some ebikes just mount the light below the display panel in the middle. The Supernova E3 V6s is awesome because it's aimable and tough but can be mounted like this... or the Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ-X which looks like the Supernova to me but has blade cutouts on the sides for increased visual footprint, you can see it here on this very expensive bike: electricbikereview.com/riese-muller/delite-mountain/
I'm kind of overwhelmed with all the reviews, couldn't you do a top 5 e bike?... I want a e fat bike but not sure with one to go for, plus I live in UK.
I’m about to pull the trigger on the Verve+ 3. It’s tough now because the stores are closed to traffic and many bikes are not in stock. Have you had a chance to look at the 3.
I just purchased one. It is a great bike. Only very small complaints would be if it had a shock on the front fork. And the rear tail light is mounted on the bike rack. Because I'm not going to be using the bike for shopping, I'd like to remove the rack, thus reducing the weight some. I'm going to try to find a way to deliver electricity to the light other then via the rack.But neither of he shortcoming enough to prevent me from purchasing or enjoying the ride.
Dude, you rock. Thank you for such an insightful and in-depth review. Just bought this bike on a whim without a ton of the usual research, and of course it comes down to bang for the buck. You have reassured me that my purchase gives me value for my money and that the actual bike suits my needs. Thank you.
Would upgrading to the Intuvia upgrade make much of a difference over the Purion? My local shop will charge me $250 to purchase and install the Intuvia. I'm wondering if my $250 could be used for something of more value...and are you from The Fort? I've seen a couple of your videos from here.
an excellent review friend, I plan to change the love of my life MY SONDORS THIN ELECTRIC BIKE for something better. Do you think that bicycle would be a good substitute (?) What about the ROAM FUSION from Luna Cycle (?)
I haven't seen the Roam but Luna does have some interesting options. All of my ebikes were purchased from local dealers because it's fun to get fitted, I appreciate having support (since I ride on and off road) and I got to learn more about ebikes this way. Do you have an independent ebike dealer nearby? maybe you could go do some test rides. Yes, I do really like the Verve+ and would highly consider getting one (and adding a rack) for my own commuting and city riding :)
Always enjoy ur reviews. This seems like one of the best deals out there 🤔 Just a small tip ; when doing many of the camera shots ur getting way too close to ur own face . In HD it’s a bit creepy . Makes ur nose look HUGE lol keep up the amazing work. I’ve probably seen 40 videos by now. Will be picking out my 1st e - bike within a few months. This particular model is at the top of my list . Especially for that price and weight.
I see one of these for sale for $200 right now. The battery is missing. I am selling a fat tire bike that I built myself for $300. I have the battery, but nobody will want to pay for it. It is made with 98 samsung cells, and it is a beast. It is 56 volts though. This trek bike is 36v and I think about 260 watts. The replacement Bosh battery is trash compared to mine, and they want $1000 for it. That is a huge part of the price problem. They are charging more money than the best battery available would cost. For $700 you could buy one 3-4 times better. I built my own battery for about $400. That was buying a 100 pack of samsung cells from overseas. The price can triple once it gets here. I payed about $3 per cell. They wanted about $6 or more here. I just blew my controller I think on my big bike. It probably couldn't handle the higher voltage. They are supposed to, but maybe it was poorly made. I sure am not paying $1000 for a crap Bosch battery. I may buy it, and give it a real battery. I may even give it a real moter with some power. I could add a hub motor, and use my battery. It is a good deal regardless. I have to take advantage of it.
Someone call text or email these e bike companies to make the innertubes all rubber.It will make it better easier for the biker.I will pay extra money if they did ???
Getbenje Took a test ride on both. Bought the Trek+ several factors in my decision but the main reason was weight as the Trek is only 44 pounds. Also wanted higher end components and a mid drive. Wanted a more traditional bicycle without throttle and I can go over 60 miles per charge on the first level of assist.
Hi Tom, yes, there are ways to build your own electric bike! You can explore some of these conversion kits, and I will be reviewing and posting more soon: electricbikereview.com/category/kits/
Hi Aaron! No, I don't sell any ebikes and have backed away from advertising with any ebike manufacturers because I want to be as independent as possible. The best way to find this product is to find a local Trek dealer :)
I bought an E-motion bike about two years ago. Designed in Spain, made in China. About $1700. I have 2200 km on it now. The one with the battery mounted under the saddle. I really enjoyed commuting about 3 miles each way almost daily. I had to add a chain guard to keep chain from falling off, upgrade the tires (had a puncture), upgraded the derailleur. Also had to replace wiring to battery because the way the battery is mounted is a poor design. Looks like the Trek Verve+ has all the right components, good design, adequate but not too much power for my age, length of commute and terrain. Also Verve doesn't weigh too much? That was a big advantage of the E-motion--not much more weight than my regular commuting bike. Learned a lot with the E-Motion. Looking forward to learning more about the Verve on a test-ride. Thanks so much for the thorough review. It was really helpful. I also have a 3-speed made in Holland with front and rear lights, just like the Verve.
Great review and helped me immensely in selecting an eBike - thanks for this! Purchased this bike a couple of months ago and have started riding more as Spring arrives in Toronto. I have non-electric bikes for when I want to get a workout but wanted an electric one when my primary purpose is to commute or something else (eg. photography ride). I bought the Verve+ because I wanted something to flatten out hills and cut through wind without feeling like a scooter and it has lived up to my expectations so far. The mid-drive is quiet and power is added seamlessly into your normal pedal stroke. It's relatively light weight (for an e-bike) means that you can ride without power or in the lowest setting in many circumstances to get some calorie burn in as well. Riding position is awesome - only replaced the seat for something with a bit more cushion. Also like how the lights are nicely integrated into the bike.
Be sure to test this bike on the terrain you usually ride. The lack of front shocks ruled it out for me at my age w/sports injuries that could not absorb the shock directly on front wheel that went to my shoulders, wrists, elbows. Otherwise it is a neat bike.
That was such a very very good and knowledgeable explanation of the Trek electric bikes and left no detail unexplained, thank you very much for that now I can make up my mind as to what sort of ebike I want and will purchase. I feel that I now have the confidence to go into a bike shop and actually know what I am talking about so again thank you for that and greeting from across the pond.
Really appreciate the detail and all the effort you put into these reviews. Thanks very much.
Great review as usual. I come to you for all of my e-bike reviews. Looking to get this one used and nice to see your review on it
We just bought one for my wife. Trek has them on closeout sale right now.
Nice design, clean, fairly simple. Can't wait to see more of these and less cars in traffic around our cities! Appreciate the review, as always!
Me too, it's great to have models coming out from mainstream companies, there are a lot of cyclists in Fort Collins and ebikes could allow even more people to go by bike vs. car :)
Great to see some more mainstream bike brands. I'd love to see more Trek, Norco, Giant, Specialized, Kona, etc.
Really helpful reviews of Trek and others. They have helped me make a choice. Excellent detailed coverage. Appreciate the technical aspect also.
Joel Ambelang *HOPE YOU GET THIS* What did you chose ?
Nice bicycle, nice the battery in the middle, very nice price :) I should buy the rear reck. I not like the Purion display, perhaps you can change it to Intuvia. If it is really cold I know that there are covers that protect the battery against the cold. I only know the covers for battery on the rear reck, perhaps there are also covers for the battery in the middle. I own 2 400 watt rear rack battery's, the second I bought very cheap (new) on internet, 200 euro. Original Bosch. Normally when I drive shorter distances I change the battery when there are 3 III left. I always load my battery and keep the other inside my house. It is a good thing when you not going to use the battery for a longer period to load the battery half full. My nearly 8 years first battery still works fine, little less distance then the second one I bought (6 years old). On very long trips I bring the second battery along. I ride mostly in tour, sometimes with strong headwinds in sport and if I must climb, I use turbo. Mostly that are bridges here in my flat country, The Netherlands. I still can manage about 100 km on 1 battery, but in winter time it can be less, in summer time it can be more.
At this price point; go out and get one! I just purchased mine and I am grinning when that motor kicks in.
Robert Czaplicki What is your opinion after 5 months ownership?
Robert Czaplicki Hi. How u like the verve+?? I want to purchase one too!
Hello Court, I enjoy your reviews and you have a knack for it along with the great personality. I just wanted to say this is a great city bike with one caveat and that is I would have liked to see a throttle on this bike that would give you full power from a standstill for those awkward situations when you get caught in the wrong gear at an intersection or a sudden stop and you need to go quickly and not fumble around losing time and ones mojo. It may not comply with class designation but maybe it could be sold as an after market upgrade. This is where hub motors shine. I'd appreciate your comment.
Throttles are great! But like you infer,, it'd change the classification from Class 1 to Class 3, limiting it's lawful use in many places....also, this model has rather weak motor output and throttle would also be weak. Probably better to look at a higher power model which includes it. Imho, I think Trek is being thoughtful about excluding it in this case.
I built a 1000w e-bike and definitely luv the throttle, fyi.
(Good review Court!)
Hi Herbert! It seems that Trek is going very conservative with throttles, even disabling walk mode. There are lots of other options in this price range that do have a throttle, mostly from smaller companies with less to lose maybe? I created a search filter on the site so you can click advanced and choose Drive Mode trigger throttle and twist throttle to explore different options. I think throttles are also potentially hard on the drivetrain if you ride a mid-drive product like this. Anyway, here's the link: electricbikereview.com/
Art this bike is great for getting the most miles from the battery.
Thanks for the filter tip. I wasn't aware of that function and I have been to your site often. It seems like there aren't any mid drive bikes with throttle override
Does the torsion sensor from a full stop act as a throttle?
Great review. You do a really good job both as to the technical stuff but as well as a pleasant personality which makes the review especially easy to watch. Just bought a Verve+ 3, so of course, am trying to get as much information as possible to get to know the bike better. Why an electric now? I've toured or trained thousands of miles on my TREK 7500. I just turned 81 and the hills and distances I like to ride are becoming a bit more difficult. The new bike will add years of riding to places I'd still like to explore.
Your reviews are super helpful. Thank you! What about the 2019 model of this? I couldn't find your review for that. If not much substantial change, would you comment on that? Also, would you comment on anything special needed for caring for where the battery attaches (like, do you need to dry it off/out if it rains while you are transporting it without batter connected, etc.)?
What a wonderful review - comprehensive and well informed delivered in fine entertaining style. Thank you and greetings from the UK
I would recommend this to anyone
Great review, thanks. I bought one and am loving it so much
Wonder when some manufacturer will come up with the idea of a fixed light on the head tube with an additional/auxillary light on the handlebars/stem. If someone hasn't already.
Lynn Recker what about the Stromer ST2?
Well, one from under $3000
check out flash bike.io and reisse and muiller
I like how some ebikes just mount the light below the display panel in the middle. The Supernova E3 V6s is awesome because it's aimable and tough but can be mounted like this... or the Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ-X which looks like the Supernova to me but has blade cutouts on the sides for increased visual footprint, you can see it here on this very expensive bike: electricbikereview.com/riese-muller/delite-mountain/
I'm kind of overwhelmed with all the reviews, couldn't you do a top 5 e bike?... I want a e fat bike but not sure with one to go for, plus I live in UK.
See his website for a rundown of the Top 5 in each eBike category.
I’m about to pull the trigger on the Verve+ 3. It’s tough now because the stores are closed to traffic and many bikes are not in stock. Have you had a chance to look at the 3.
I just purchased one. It is a great bike. Only very small complaints would be if it had a shock on the front fork. And the rear tail light is mounted on the bike rack. Because I'm not going to be using the bike for shopping, I'd like to remove the rack, thus reducing the weight some. I'm going to try to find a way to deliver electricity to the light other then via the rack.But neither of he shortcoming enough to prevent me from purchasing or enjoying the ride.
Thanks for the video. Just got one. Have not had a lot of time to ride but love it so far.
I like the review. I love everything about the bike. One day I’ll get one. I’m a big fan of the verve
Nice point on the pedels, sliping off them with no pins or spikes is a shin saver..
nice to see the the CSU campus! Seems to be a very good bike at a good price point.
Thanks for the video. I'm thinking about getting this bike and your video did answer my question.
Battery Sipper ! Nice . Great company, good all around bike at a good price , thumb's up
Dude, you rock. Thank you for such an insightful and in-depth review. Just bought this bike on a whim without a ton of the usual research, and of course it comes down to bang for the buck. You have reassured me that my purchase gives me value for my money and that the actual bike suits my needs. Thank you.
Hello! Where is the Verve plus 2 review?
Would upgrading to the Intuvia upgrade make much of a difference over the Purion? My local shop will charge me $250 to purchase and install the Intuvia. I'm wondering if my $250 could be used for something of more value...and are you from The Fort? I've seen a couple of your videos from here.
Can u do a review of 2020 verve+ 2?
It’s incredible. I just bought this bike for my wife as a present, and it’s a solid well built and good for the price.
Fantastic review Court 😀
Thank you Marcel! I appreciate your compliment :D
This is like Scott E-Sub Tour without front Suspension.
an excellent review friend, I plan to change the love of my life MY SONDORS THIN ELECTRIC BIKE for something better. Do you think that bicycle would be a good substitute (?) What about the ROAM FUSION from Luna Cycle (?)
i effen love my xm700+
Daniel Smalheiser mucho mucho mucho mucho mucho mucho mucho dinero!
I haven't seen the Roam but Luna does have some interesting options. All of my ebikes were purchased from local dealers because it's fun to get fitted, I appreciate having support (since I ride on and off road) and I got to learn more about ebikes this way. Do you have an independent ebike dealer nearby? maybe you could go do some test rides. Yes, I do really like the Verve+ and would highly consider getting one (and adding a rack) for my own commuting and city riding :)
ElectricBikeReview.com I want you to be honest with us. What bike would you buy from so many?
Great review Court
Can you switch the shifter to a "Grip Shift"? My wife struggles with the thumb/finger style.
Good review mate
Can you upgrade the motors on these older models?
Always enjoy ur reviews. This seems like one of the best deals out there 🤔 Just a small tip ; when doing many of the camera shots ur getting way too close to ur own face . In HD it’s a bit creepy . Makes ur nose look HUGE lol keep up the amazing work. I’ve probably seen 40 videos by now. Will be picking out my 1st e - bike within a few months. This particular model is at the top of my list . Especially for that price and weight.
What is the battery life span?
Wow, rack for water a big deal., How about a gun rack?
I see one of these for sale for $200 right now. The battery is missing. I am selling a fat tire bike that I built myself for $300. I have the battery, but nobody will want to pay for it. It is made with 98 samsung cells, and it is a beast. It is 56 volts though. This trek bike is 36v and I think about 260 watts. The replacement Bosh battery is trash compared to mine, and they want $1000 for it. That is a huge part of the price problem. They are charging more money than the best battery available would cost. For $700 you could buy one 3-4 times better. I built my own battery for about $400. That was buying a 100 pack of samsung cells from overseas. The price can triple once it gets here. I payed about $3 per cell. They wanted about $6 or more here. I just blew my controller I think on my big bike. It probably couldn't handle the higher voltage. They are supposed to, but maybe it was poorly made. I sure am not paying $1000 for a crap Bosch battery. I may buy it, and give it a real battery. I may even give it a real moter with some power. I could add a hub motor, and use my battery. It is a good deal regardless. I have to take advantage of it.
Someone call text or email these e bike companies to make the innertubes all rubber.It will make it better easier for the biker.I will pay extra money if they did ???
Radcity bike or trek plus????? With one is better??
Getbenje Took a test ride on both. Bought the Trek+ several factors in my decision but the main reason was weight as the Trek is only 44 pounds. Also wanted higher end components and a mid drive. Wanted a more traditional bicycle without throttle and I can go over 60 miles per charge on the first level of assist.
@@gregjohnson9272 Thanks so much I went with the Trek . You the man 👍🏾
The best
nice price bit extream though
Anyone knows a DIY ebike?
Hi Tom, yes, there are ways to build your own electric bike! You can explore some of these conversion kits, and I will be reviewing and posting more soon: electricbikereview.com/category/kits/
I just bought from dj-ebikes. Much cheaper and more for your money
I don't know if this applies to you, but could we buy the bikes on the website electricbikereview.com?
On your website?
Hi Aaron! No, I don't sell any ebikes and have backed away from advertising with any ebike manufacturers because I want to be as independent as possible. The best way to find this product is to find a local Trek dealer :)